Tulips at Keukenhof

Personal Collection

  #198

Watercolour and Ink

Carole Villeneuve

May 2024

14" x 22" 

The Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands is traditionally open

 for eight weeks from around mid March to around mid May.  

The tulips in this painting were photographed 

on April 12, 2024.  

Visiting the gardens is like being transported into 

a magical world of colour and texture. 

Le jardin de tournesols

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 #195

aquarelle

Carole Villeneuve

février 2024

14" x 22"

Heliotropism is a phenomenom

 where plants move toward the sun. 

In the morning young sunflowers face the east.

 Throughout the day they follow the sun westward

 and during the night

 they slowly turn back towards the east.  

As sunflowers age this sun tracking movement slows

 as the flower becomes heavy with seeds.

The  sunflower spends the rest of its days facing east.

Le Tourne Sol

Une Merveille de la nature

Tourne vers le soleil!

Garden of Hedgehogs

$125 plus framing

  #188

Watercolour
Carole Villeneuve
March 2023

9" x 21"

The name of the Echinacea coneflower daisy is derived from

the Greek word ekhinos,

meaning "sea urchin or hedgehog".

Echinacea has long been known for its' many health benefits

and the flowers are traditionally dried

as an herbal supplement.

The petals, roots and leaves are all edible

and can be dried and steeped into teas and juices.

After the Berry

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 #186

Watercolour
Carole Villeneuve
February 2023

15" x 15"

Sometimes we miss what is right before of us. 

Who knew?

The strawberry leaf is a source of vitamin C, tannins, minerals and antioxidants.  The leaves have been harvested and used medicinally for centuries for many health benefits or can simply be enjoyed as a delicious summer-time hot or cold drink.

The strawberry is a cherished fruit but the leaf endures.    

Groups of three.

The strawberry leaf.

A symbol of trinity. 

Danse avec moi

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#145

aquarelle

Carole Villeneuve

octobre 2015

14" x 10"

Poppies blowing in the breeze one sunny summer morning. 

 The gentle breeze fans the flowers in a subtle dance, moving them just enough

 to highlight the sun shining through the petals.  

The music of a gentle breeze invites us to dance.

The Pond

$100 plus framing

 #140

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

March 2015

10" x 14"

These goldfish swim freely from late spring to early fall in an outdoor pond, 

then retire to a slower pace in an aquarium through the Canadian winter.  

Goldfish were one of the first fish to be domesticated.  

In Japan and China goldfish are symbols for wealth and good luck.

Les citrouilles et le camion

$125 plus framing

#137

aquarelle

Carole Villeneuve

novembre 2014

22" x 10"

Pumpkins have long since become a symbol of autumn. 

 In this painting of pumpkins and an old truck, we see a perfect pairing of times past. 

Pumpkins are among the oldest domesticated plants on Earth. 

Archaeological evidence suggests that pumpkins have been cultivated 

as far back as 10,000 B.C.  

This old truck may not be that old, but from the rust on its fenders,

 it has had countless adventures.  

Perhaps it has delivered a few pumpkin pies.

Le fruit de la rose

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#133

aquarelle

Carole Villeneuve

april 2014

Unframed

14" x 10"

Rose hip, rose haw, rose hep!

Call it what you may, it's the fruit of the rose.

Usually red to orange in colour, some species range from dark purple to black.  Rose hips have a high content of vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium and iron and may be used fresh or dried in countless recipes.  Sip a cup of rose hip tea, enjoy a glass of refreshing rose hip punch or rose hip wine, smother your pancakes in rose hip syrup or if you are brave, indulge in a bowl of Swedish rose hip soup.

Le fruit du palmier

$150 plus framing

#124

aquarelle

Carole Villeneuve

October 2013

20" x 14"

The palm tree, not a true tree, found throughout the world in hot climates from deserts to rainforests, gives forth an amazing variety of fruit.  There are over two thousand kinds of palm trees and in historical times they were symbols for peace, victory and fertility. The fruit in this painting from a palm tree in Mexico portrays a glowing example of the ripening of the fruit.  Easy to see how it's simple beauty inspired thoughts of peace, victory and fertility. 

Sunrise Sunset

$150 plus framing

#119

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

July 2013

22" x 14"

These coconuts are painted in a way that helps us to appreciate the way the morning and evening lights can change the way we see things. 

 An otherwise monochromatic coconut comes alive as the sun rises and falls.  

Evening Poppies

$150 plus framing

#118

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

July 2013

22" x 14"

These oriental poppies begin to close as evening approaches. 

Walking through a garden of poppies as they begin to close 

at the end of the day, 

reminds us how nature has it's own way of 

resting peacefully after a day of splendor. 

Tacheté de Monet

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#117

aquarelle

Carole Villeneuve

juin 2013

14" x 8"

These Monet Pointsettia were photographed at the Flower Fields of Carlsbad, California in the Ecke Pointsettia Greenhouse.  This watercolour was painted from that photograph, inspired by Monet, with his ability to portray flowers in shadow and light. Monet Pointsettia have white sprinkled with red bracts (or leaves) that create "interest" and  "splash" .  

Fu Soh Lu

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#115

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

April 2013

21" x 14"

This bamboo painting was inspired by a clump of 

golden bamboo photographed growing

 at a friend's home on the big Island of Hawaii.  

The Hawaiian word for bamboo is 'Ohe. 

'Ohe is said to be the body form of the Polynesian creator god Kane.

  

Bamboo has long been the Chinese symbol for strength. 

This painting is named for the Feng Shui meaning for 3 stalks of lucky bamboo

--fu (happiness) soh (long life) and lu (wealth).    

Although this bamboo is larger than lucky bamboo I see  

happiness, long life and wealth in this 'Ohe.

Water Lilies at Giverny

$150 plus framing

 

#103

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

December 2012

14" x 20"

This painting was inspired by a vist to Giverny in September 2012.  Upon entering the gardens, my eye was drawn to the light and reflections created by the day's sun,  shadows created by the multitude of plants and the movement on the water from the day's breeze. Easy to see how, although the structure of the garden remains relatively the same, the seasonal changes of plants, as well as different lighting depending on the season and weather, profondly affects the presence of the gardens. 

Each day in the garden is sure to bring something new.   

Dream of a Vineyard

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#98

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

July 2012

Unframed

14' x 22"

Memories of my grandfather working in his garden, amongst the grapevines, invokes thoughts of dreams he must have had of vineyards on the hillsides in the old country.

Apples

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#86

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

November 2011

7" x 10"

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away" 

Purity and Innocence

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#84

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

October 2011

Unframed

14"x 10"

The white daisy symbolizes purity, innocence and faithful love.   The name daisy is believed to have come from the Old English "daes eage" to describe the way it opens at dawn.  The daisy also brings to mind the child's game of "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" (of french origin).  In Victorian times, a young maiden would pluck a daisy's petals one by one and sing, "He loves me, he loves me not," for each petal pulled.   The last petal plucked predicted the future of their love.  In "Purity and Innocence"  one can always find a "He loves me" or "She loves me" petal.  Young girls would also pick a handful of daisies with their eyes closed.  The number of blossoms in hand would predict the number of years remaining until marriage.  One can imagine that there would be a bit of choice in their "handful of daisies".  

Voyage vers le bleu

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#82

L'aquarelle

Carole Villeneuve

octobre 2011

20"x 13"

Consider these blue facts.  

Blueberries ripen over time from light green to red to purple to blue. 

Blueberries contain an antioxidant that could prevent mental health

 decline as you age. 

Click blueberry or memory for more.

Apple Blossoms

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#80

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

September 2011

7"x 14"

or 

14" x 7"

as nature unfolds

summer's delicate blossoms 

becomes autumn's fruit

Two Wish Upon a Star

Personal Collection

#79
Watercolour
Carole Villeneuve
July 2011

14 in x 11 in

The Alstroemeria, a flowering plant ressembling a miniature lily and commonly known as the Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas, was named for the Swedish baron, Claus von Alstroemer (1736-1794) by his close friend Carolus Linnaeus.  The Alstroemeria flower symbolizes  friendship and devotion.

This painting was painted for a friend to remember a friend.  

May their friendship continue to flourish.